Ryan Gainey, an internationally known, award-winning landscape designer, artist and author, will be the star Feb. 27 at the Cherokee Garden Library’s first lecture of the 2013 series in McElreath Hall at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead. The event is sold out.

The Decatur resident came to Atlanta from South Carolina in the 1970s and began the first of many garden enterprises as he changed the face of garden design in America — particularly in Atlanta. In his most recent book, “The Gathered Garden,” Gainey recounts stories of his past through the history of plants he has loved and collected.

His connecting-to-plants stories will be the centerpiece of the presentation. The 4 p.m. free public lecture will be followed by an exploration of a botanical art display featuring original art by Sarah Towery, Gainey’s book signing and a reception.

The lecture is chaired by Teri Bond with help from committee members Ione Lee, Mary Wayne Dixon, Kathy Hendricks, Louise Gunn and Libby Prickett. Prickett is the library’s current president. The library was founded by the Northside-area Cherokee Garden Club under the leadership of Anne C. Carr and opened at the center in 1975 as an educational resource for those interested in gardening, landscape design, garden history, horticulture, floral design, botanical art and ecology.

As part of the Kenan Research Center, the present library holds more than 25,000 books, photographs, manuscripts, seed catalogs and landscape drawings plus significant works in American horticulture and botanical history. Under the stewardship of Director Staci Catron, the library’s botanical treasures are shared with the public through special educational exhibits, lectures and events.

Friends of Winship is hosting an inaugural benefit luncheon, Fashion A Cure, Feb. 27 at the Piedmont Driving Club in Midtown. The event will feature the latest fashion highlights from 15 Atlanta boutiques.

Models for the stylish runway presentation will be cancer survivors calling attention to the purpose of the luncheon — to raise funds for research on cancers prevalent among women. Missy Craver and Karen Richardson are co-chairing the event with 29 dedicated host committee members.

In 2010 Emory University in DeKalb County approved the creation of Friends of Winship, a volunteer organization, to function as an operating division under the development office of Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute.

The mission for the nonprofit Friends is to provide volunteer support services for cancer patients and families, sponsor information sessions about cancer prevention and treatment and to help raise funds to contribute toward research studies.

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in cancer research and treatment, and in helping Winship become the premier cancer center in the Southeast.

The annual “The Price is Right: Art Under $1,000” exhibit opening Feb. 28 and running through April 6 at the Swan Coach House Gallery in Buckhead will again showcase affordable works by local artists. This is the fourth edition of the popular show-and-sell collection benefiting the Forward Arts Foundation.

It will feature 18 diverse artists in a range of mediums including paintings, drawings, photography, prints, collage and mixed media. To create an interesting and dynamic collection, artwork by both emerging and more established artists are intermingled in the exhibit.

“I particularly enjoyed organizing this year’s exhibit because I love discovering young — and sometimes older — artists who have not yet gained exposure in the broader context of the Atlanta art world and showing how their work holds up nicely next to work of more mature artist — all at affordable prices under $1,000,” curator Marianne Lambert said.

The venerable Buckhead Heritage Society is partnering with the Buckhead Business Association to present a meaningful Buckhead’s 175th Anniversary Celebration: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow March 1 at the Buckhead Theatre.

In 1838, for just $650, Henry Irby purchased 202 acres surrounding the present intersection of Peachtree, Roswell, and West Paces Ferry roads. He established a general store at the junction, and a small crossroads community was born. The 2013 celebration will trace the history of the Buckhead community and look forward to future recognition of the importance and influence of the area.

The evening party site stands at the historic hub of the once far-flung, rural settlement. Guests will enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and great music by the Atlanta Allstars Band. A photographic retrospection of Buckhead’s history will educate, entertain and encourage attendees to share their own memories of the ever-evolving community within the city of Atlanta.

Honorary co-chairs are Charlie Loudermilk, the co-founder of Aaron’s Rents and owner of the historic Buckhead Theatre, and Sam Massell, former Atlanta mayor and founding president of the community-oriented Buckhead Coalition. The anniversary event co-chairs are Caroline and Boyd Leake, who serves on the society’s board. Lori and Thornton Kennedy, Blain and Ivan Allen IV and Carter and Hampton Morris are heading the host committee.

Proceeds from the celebration will benefit the society and the creation of a master history plan for the unique community that will map how to integrate historic sites and stories into the Buckhead Collection — a system of new parks, trails and greenspaces for the district.

Spearheaded by Livable Buckhead Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to adding parkland to the area, the history planning project will develop storylines to present and identify sites to spotlight Buckhead’s rich history and to share stories with the public through signage, exhibits, public art, publications and digital media.

The society is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying, preserving and supporting Buckhead’s historic resources. The association is also a nonprofit promoting a positive and informed business environment for its members and to achieve cultural, civic, social, economic and business goals as it actively contributes to the vitality of the historic area.

A lively prelude with comedian-actor-author-playwright Steve Martin will set the scene for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s third annual Atlanta Symphony Gala benefit March 2 in the Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown. The evening will include a performance by the Grammy Award-winning Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers bluegrass band, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

The three-part event will begin with a cocktail reception in the Stent Atrium, leading to the Martin concert in Symphony Hall. Next is an after-concert patrons’ seated dinner in the Taylor Lobby plus an after-dinner lounge party featuring a dueling piano session with The Andrew Brothers in the Stent Atrium along with late-evening cocktails, coffee and desserts.

Atlanta Falcons offensive guard Justin Blalock, an ASO spokesperson for music education, is the event’s honorary chair. Orchestra board member Tad Hutcheson, vice president of community and public affairs at Delta Air Lines, and his wife Janin are co-chairing the gala.

The patron chair is Julie Baringer. Led by international acclaimed Music Director Robert Spano, the orchestra is currently in its 68th season and consistently affirms its position as one of America’s leading orchestras by performing great music, presenting great artists, educating and engaging.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit orchestra and its youth orchestra and talent development programs and support partnerships with local community institutions to create a variety of musical and education experiences for citizens of all ages.

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